Small Bathroom Storage Ideas Without Drilling
A small bathroom has three unused spots: the counter corner, the back of the door and the cabinet under the sink.
Small bathrooms fill up fast because every product has to live within arm's reach of the sink or shower, and renters usually cannot add shelves or cabinets. The good news is that most of the storage you need is already there. It is just unused. This guide walks through each spot in order, from the counter to the shower, using only pieces that stand, hang or stick.
Clear the counter first
Take everything off the counter and put back only what you use every day. Most people find that is five or six items.
Small drawers keep those items together and off the wet surface. Clear ones let you see what is running low.
Clear drawers keep small daily items off the counter, and the plastic wipes clean with soap and water.
View on Amazon Add to Amazon cart 🛒Use the back of the door
The door is the largest empty surface in a small bathroom. An over-the-door organizer hangs on hooks, so it suits renters and leaves no holes.
Use the pockets for spare toiletries, hair tools and cleaning cloths. Keep heavy bottles in the lower pockets.
Five shelves plus side pockets hang on any door with no drilling. Useful for shoes, bags or cleaning supplies.
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A chrome rack with rings for a dryer, flat iron and brush plus a basket, hung over a cabinet door (about 14.3" H x 10.7" W x 5.3" D) or screwed to the wall. Worth knowing: reviewers say long curling irons can keep the door from closing and it is too wide for some 15" cabinets, so measure inside the door with the tools in. Let hot tools cool before hanging them.
View on AmazonAdd to Amazon cart 🛒Fix the cabinet under the sink
The pipe is what makes this cabinet awkward. Measure the clear space on each side of it before buying anything.
A narrow sliding organizer on one side brings the back row forward, so nothing gets lost behind the cleaning supplies.
Sliding shelves bring the back of the cabinet to you. The two-pack covers both sides of the drain pipe.
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The organizer featured in our videos. Two pull-out tiers keep cleaning supplies within reach under the sink.
View on Amazon Add to Amazon cart 🛒Group small items in bins
Loose items spread. A few clear bins sorted by use, such as hair, skin and first aid, make it obvious where each thing goes back.
A mix of sizes for snacks, packets and produce. Clear walls show what is running low.
View on Amazon Add to Amazon cart 🛒For vanity drawers, small clear trays do the same job on a smaller scale: hair ties, brushes and toothpaste each get their own spot. This set has four sizes (3 x 3, 6 x 3, 9 x 3 and 9 x 6 inches), all 2 inches tall, plus 100 silicone feet. Reviewers say the trays are smaller than some expect, can still slide even with the feet (fill the drawer edge to edge), a few arrive with cracked corners, and the slightly slanted walls leave small gaps.
Four tray sizes, all 2" tall, with silicone feet. Check your drawer depth and fill it edge to edge.
View on AmazonAdd to Amazon cart 🛒Keep it easy to clean
Bathrooms are humid, so choose pieces that wipe clean and can be lifted out. Once a month, empty each organizer, wipe it and put back only what you still use.
Get bottles off the tub ledge
A narrow tub ledge looks like free storage, but every bottle you add makes the next one harder to reach, and the ones at the edge tend to tip into the tub. Moving shampoo and body wash onto the wall frees the ledge, keeps bottles upright and lets water drain through instead of pooling under them.
Two black metal wire baskets (about 11 inches wide) that stick to tile with adhesive panels, so there is no drilling. Each has small hooks underneath for a razor or loofah.
View on AmazonAdd to Amazon cart 🛒Worth knowing before you buy: the front rail is low, about 2.2 inches, so tall bottles can tip if you bump them, and several buyers say the baskets can bend under very heavy pump bottles. The adhesive also holds hard, which is great for daily use but means it can be difficult to remove when you move out. Stick it on smooth, clean, dry tile and wait the full curing time before loading it.
Map the room in five zones
| Zone | Best use | No-drill option |
|---|---|---|
| Counter | Daily items only: toothbrush, soap, one skincare step | Small drawer unit or a tray |
| Under the sink | Backstock, cleaning supplies, hair tools | Sliding tiers and clear bins |
| Back of the door | Towels, spare toiletries, cloths | Over-the-door organizer or hooks |
| Above the toilet | Extra towels and paper | Freestanding over-the-toilet rack |
| Shower | Shampoo, body wash, razors | Tension pole caddy or adhesive baskets |
Deal with humidity
Bathrooms are the most humid room in the home, which affects what you store and what you store it in.
- Keep medicines and vitamins somewhere cooler and drier when possible, such as a bedroom shelf or a kitchen cabinet away from the stove. Heat and moisture can affect some medicines, so follow the storage instructions on the label.
- Choose plastic, acrylic or coated metal over bare wood or cardboard boxes.
- Run the fan or crack the door after showers so towels and organizers dry out.
- Leave a little space between bins so air can move.
A quick weekly reset
- Return everything on the counter to its drawer or bin.
- Toss empty bottles and samples you will never use.
- Wipe the counter and the bottom of any tray.
- Restock toilet paper and hand soap from the under-sink backstock.
Common mistakes
- Buying a large caddy for the counter, which just becomes a second clutter spot.
- Storing extra toilet paper on the floor, where it absorbs moisture.
- Using adhesive hooks on freshly painted or textured walls, where they fall off.
- Keeping every hotel and sample bottle. Pick a small bin for travel sizes and stop there.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add storage to a bathroom with no medicine cabinet?
Use the door and the wall above the toilet. A freestanding rack over the toilet and an over-the-door organizer together often hold more than a medicine cabinet, with no installation.
Are adhesive shelves safe in a shower?
Choose ones rated for wet areas and keep the load light. Clean and dry the tile before you stick them on, and wait the full curing time listed on the package before adding bottles.
What should I keep under a bathroom sink?
Backstock toiletries, cleaning supplies in a carry caddy, and hair tools once they are cool. Leave the water shut-off valves easy to reach.